The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined calls for the resignation of New Berlin, Wisconsin, Mayor Dave Ament following reports that he shared a series of anti-Muslim, racist and sexist posts on his personal Facebook page.
CAIR also called on Mayor Ament to take responsibility for the material he shared and apologize to New Berlin’s Muslim residents and other affected communities.
Ament’s public social media activity reportedly included posts advocating banning Islam and closing mosques, as well as content portraying Muslims and Muslim voters in derogatory and dehumanizing terms. His reposts reportedly included: “If you voted for a Muslim for elected office in this country, you are a traitor,” and “If it weren’t for white people slavery would’ve never ended.”
SEE: New Berlin mayor under fire for slew of anti-Muslim Facebook posts
Muslim community organizations, including the Muslim Women’s Coalition and the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance, have called for Ament’s resignation.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“An elected official has a responsibility to serve every member of the community, regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, or background. Sharing material that demonizes Muslims and promotes hostility toward an entire faith community is incompatible with that responsibility. Mayor Ament should resign and allow New Berlin to move forward with leadership that respects all of its residents. He should also take responsibility for the bigoted material he shared and apologize to New Berlin’s Muslim residents and other affected communities.”
CAIR called on Mayor Ament to take responsibility for the material he shared, apologize to New Berlin’s Muslim residents and other affected communities, and resign from office.
CAIR also urged elected officials and public figures across Wisconsin and the nation to reject anti-Muslim bigotry and to recognize that rhetoric targeting religious minorities can contribute to an atmosphere of fear, discrimination and hostility.
BACKGROUNDER: CAIR recently responded to a number of anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.
Yesterday, CAIR’s Maryland office condemned the reported harassment of multiple Muslim women wearing Islamic headscarves, or hijabs, at a market in Montgomery County.
CAIR’s Los Angeles office recently condemned the violent online threats responding to an online anti-Muslim smear campaign targeting the Islamic Center of Irvine (ICOI).
In New York, CAIR called on local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate reported hate vandalism targeting a mosque site on Long Island as a possible hate crime.
CAIR called on local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate an allegedly bias-motivated spitting attack on a Muslim woman in Kentucky as a hate crime.
CAIR’s Florida chapter welcomed charges for an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a mosque.
Its Michigan chapter welcomed federal charges against an Alaska man accused of making threats to injure and murder Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and issuing violent, Islamophobic threats against Muslims.
Its Pittsburgh and Philadelphia chapters welcomed the City of Erie’s response to reported threats targeting the local Muslim community and urged authorities to remain vigilant in protecting residents from anti-Muslim hate and intimidation.
CAIR also welcomed the federal indictment of a Utah man on a hate crime charge for allegedly stabbing a Muslim man at the West Valley Mall in West Valley City, Utah.
CAIR’s latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]